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It isn’t often that a video game franchise becomes so popular that it spawns an anime series, trading card game, manga, and feature-length anime films. Because of this incredible success the Pokémon franchise has become a household name and has been an anime and video game series spanning over two decades with no signs of slowing down. This success has expanded to the fan community and numerous fan mods of the video games have been created and a plethora of fan art has been flooding the internet. Pokémon, being generally cute in nature aren’t often realistically recreated or re-imagined. Thus, the mind-blowingly realistic Pokémon recreations done by concept artist, Joshua Dunlop quickly became viral and shared multiple times across numerous internet channels. Here are five of our favorites.

5. Pikachu

Perhaps the most widely known and internationally adored anime characters of all time is none other than Pikachu. The furry little rodent is the second main character in the hit anime and the only starter Pokémon in the Pokémon Yellow video game. Due to it’s overall cuteness and silly or sassy antics in the anime, Pikachu is one of the most popular Pokémon in the franchise. In Japan and abroad, the yellow electric mouse can be seen on obscene amounts of merchandise, clothing, and even food packaging. Because Pokémon is both a long-running anime series and video game franchise, Pikachu has become a powerful mascot for both the anime and video game industries.

4. Charmander

This literally fiery creature is one of the 3 starter Pokémon in the first ever Pokémon video game series: Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, and Pokémon Green (only in Japan). In the anime series, Charmander was one of the first Pokémon attained by Ash, the main character of the anime series. The Pokémon has 3 evolutionary stages just like all the other starter Pokémon in the games. Its fully evolved form, Charizard, became notorious in the anime series for evolving too quickly and as a result, wouldn’t listen to Ash’s commands. Modeled after the amphibian Salamander species, the realistic recreation of Charmander by Joshua Dunlop is an amazing sight to behold and looks incredibly believable.

3. Squirtle

Judging from its name alone, the real-life inspiration for Squirtle is glaringly obvious. The cute big-eyed turtle Pokémon is also one of the 3 starter Pokémon in the main video game series. As well, Squirtle is also one of the first Pokémon to join Ash’s team in the anime series. Being a water-type Pokémon, Squirtle can utilize water-based attacks and is logically powerful against fire-type Pokémon and weak against electric types. Therefore, swimming in the deep-blue ocean is the perfect setting and backdrop for the realistic depiction of Squirtle.

2. Bulbasaur

Bulbasaur is oddly a dual type (grass and poison) Pokémon. The English name of the Pokémon is a combination of the words bulb and dinosaur. Whereas, the Japanese name of the Pokémon, Fushigidane(foo-she-gee-dah-neh), means mysterious bulb. Just like Charmander and Squirtle, Bulbasaur is one of the three starter Pokémon in the first video game series. Being a grass-type Pokémon, Bulbasaur is weak against fire but illogically powerful against rock-type Pokémon (go figure the reasoning behind that one). Looking like a cross between a rhinoceros and a plant, capturing the essence of Bulbasaur is no easy task, yet this artist rendered this Pokémon perfectly.

1. Onix

There are few Pokémon more scary to imagine in reality than Onix. Being an oversized, monstrous snake made of stone, seeing a real-life Onyx would send shivers done anyone’s spine. Onix is a rock/ground type Pokémon, known as a Rock Snake. In the anime, Onix is one of the first Pokémon Ash and his team must face on his journey to become the very best Pokémon trainer. Being a rock-type Pokémon, Onix is especially weak against water and grass-type attacks. However, seeing the majestic and overbearing recreation it is hard to imagine this Pokémon being weak against anything.

That’s it for of top 5 Mind-Blowingly Realistic Pokémon Recreations. Have some favorites of your own? Let us know what they are in the comments below.

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